On the Run: The Texas Files ✔

Chapter 39: The Storm

It's been a few weeks since my first game with the team, so early April. We've been having an amazing season. Our team has gone undefeated so far. We had a couple of away games too. Parker has been at every single one. Even the one that was three hours away from here. I know he's our manager, and he technically has to go, but it's still nice to have him there. My brothers and their girlfriends have been going to all of our home games. Even Dad made an appearance at one of them.

No one has been talking about the fact Andrew and Noah are graduating. Not even them, which is something I didn't expect. They should be excited about starting their lives, right?

School is still going well. I'm still able to keep up with all of my assignments. I haven't been sleeping much, but I'm okay with that, since my nightmares are still pretty bad.

It's Friday afternoon, after school, and I'm at Parker's.

Del and Izzie ended up fixing their relationship, which makes me happier than I can even describe. They've been miserable without each other, but I'm glad they found their way back to each other. Right now, they're out somewhere doing something. They didn't give us any details when they left, but they left us with specific instructions to not do anything stupid.

We rolled our eyes at them, but I guess it's necessary. Parker is a 17-year-old boy. He's got to be thinking about it. I've been thinking about it. I can't help it. I'm almost 17 too, and I can't help but wonder if we're ready for that next step.

Parker looks at me. "Are you all right? You seem really deep in thought."

I cough to clear my throat. "Yes. I'm just thinking about, uh, our game next week."

He chuckles as he pauses the movie we're watching. "I know you're lying. What are you really thinking about?"

I sigh. "What are we?"

He raises his eyebrows. "You want to define what we are?"

I nod. "Listen, we've been doing, whatever this is, for months now. I don't know what to call you when I mention you."

"Well, you could use my name. It's Parker, if you've forgotten." he jokes.

I roll my eyes. "Can you be serious about this?"

He stops chuckling and says, "All right. When I think about how to introduce you, the first word that comes to my mind is 'girlfriend.'"

Girlfriend? I mean, I guess that's what I am, but I didn't think I'd ever hear him say it. "So, that's what we are? I'm your girlfriend, and you're my boyfriend?" I ask.

He nods. "I still don't think labels are necessary, but yes, if we want to call ourselves something, I think that's the best term."

I nudge him playfully. "Hey, boyfriend," I say jokingly.

The word sounds foreign coming out of my mouth, but somehow, it still feels right.

He gets really close to my ear, kisses my cheek, and whispers, "Hey, girlfriend."

A cold shivers shoots its way down my back. God, I love and hate when he does that. I clear my throat and shift my position, so I'm a few inches away from him. This way, I don't do anything "stupid" and can give myself the space I need to detach myself from the situation.

He raises his eyebrows again, but this time slyly. "I have to keep you on your toes, sunshine."

"Are you ever going to tell me why you gave me that nickname?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "Nope."

"Ever?" I ask.

"I might tell you someday," he says. "Maybe... Possibly... Probably not..."